Banter

2019 Bourbon Heritage Month Winners

It’s been almost three weeks since we closed out Bourbon Heritage Month 2019 and I’m finally starting to recover. As part of that recovery process I’m happy to report that we got all of the Bourbon & Banter issued prizes packed up today, and they will be shipping out on Monday, October 21st.

Tequila Reviews

Alacrán Tequila Blanco Review and Tasting Notes

I am not a tequila drinker. I’ve penned a tequila review before and it bordered on fairly useless. I’m a whiskey reviewer. That’s my jam. However, my wife, Michelle (a/k/a Mrs. Whiskeyfellow), is a tequila sommelier.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Old Soul Blended Straight Bourbon Whiskey Review

I found Old Soul Bourbon to be an interesting addition to the craft market. A nice mix of creaminess and spice with just a hint of that young dough taste you get with a young craft bourbon. The taste is also helped by a little air in the bottle over a couple weeks.

Bottled Cocktails

Old Fashioned from Watershed Distillery Review

Ask 20 different people to make you an Old Fashioned and you’ll likely get 20 different variations of this classic cocktail. While it has very few ingredients, the options within those basic ingredients can vary widely.

Banter

Redefining Bourbon Appreciation

A few months back, I shared details about a trip to visit Davis Valley Distillery in the Blue Hills of Southwestern Virginia. Davis is an emerging player in the contract distillation space offering consistent quality sourcing of bulk American Whiskeys primarily, as well as Vodka and moonshine.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Blaum Bros. Straight Rye Review

The Blaum Brothers message of quality and authenticity comes through on this product. The smoked malt adds to the complexity and a full four years in the barrel, not overly common in ryes is evident in the taste.

Banter

And Just Like That…Bourbon Heritage Month 2019 Is Over

Blame it on the #30DaysOfBourbon Challenge or the excitement of giving away bourbon prizes to bourbon-loving folks across the country, but I can’t believe that Bourbon Heritage Month 2019 is over. I mean, who the hell invited October to the party?

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Fern Creek Single Barrel Proof Bourbon Review

All single barrels are bottled straight from the barrel without chill filtering. No barrel will taste exactly the same. This bourbon is good to savor on the weekend due to its high proof; avoid making important plans when drinking this bourbon.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Fern Creek Small Batch Bourbon Review

This bourbon is a batch of selected barrels generally bottled at 100 proof. Great for daily sipping after a hard days work. Drink it straight, on the rocks, or mixed into your favorite bourbon cocktail.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Blaum Bros. Straight Bourbon Review

In the press release they say their goal was to produce a “legit and bonafide bourbon whiskey”, which may sound like a modest goal. Having tasted my share of craft bourbons, I will say it is no easy thing. I believe they accomplished their goal.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Watershed Bourbon Review

From the initial pop of the ‘cork’, an enticing spicy sweetness rushed from the bottle like a newly awoken genie. I have the word cork in quotes because it’s not an actual cork.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

George Remus Repeal Reserve III Bourbon Review

I look forward to this release each year, and each year it gets better and better. This year’s release totally caught me off guard with its heavy candied orange aroma and flavor.

Bourbon News

Introducing Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2019 Limited Release: Stave Profile RC6

Maker’s Mark® today announced the launch of its first-ever nationally available limited-release bourbon, Maker’s Mark Wood Finishing Series 2019 Limited Release: Stave Profile RC6.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Chattanooga Whiskey CASK 111 Review

Over the past few years, I’ve learned that I really enjoy whiskeys that explore using different malted grains. So when I first heard about Chattanooga Whiskey’s Tennessee High Malt Whiskey coming to market, I was pretty excited.

Bourbon News

Introducing Lux Row Distillers Double Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Lux Row Distillers has launched a new bourbon, Lux Row Distillers Double Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, to commemorate the distillery’s grand opening last year.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

HillBilly Bourbon Review

This is a very young bourbon. And it tastes like it. According to the distillery it is sourced distillate from MGP and is a blend of barrels aged somewhere between 6 and 20 months. While you definitely get a young bourbon, doughy taste some pleasant underlying notes do come through.

Book Reviews

Bourbon: What the Educated Drinker Should Know Book Review

When I first agreed to review Bourbon: What the Educated Drinker Should Know, for Bourbon and Banter, I was skeptical. The book description said in part, that it is written “… in a style both beginners and aficionados will appreciate.”

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

2019 Four Roses Limited Edition Small Batch Review

What a nose! the butter cream with vanilla front notes are amazing on their own. Add in the baking spices and juicy fruit and my nose starts telling my feet to dance. It’s really that good. It’s not overly complex like some bourbons with layer upon layer of aromas.

Boozy Books

Bourbon Curious: A Tasting Guide for the Savvy Drinker

By cutting through the noise of brand marketing, the author, Minnick, focuses solely on the flavor of bourbon, presenting a comprehensive guide that appeals to both newcomers and connoisseurs. "Bourbon Curious" expertly categorizes bourbons into four distinct flavor profiles.

Banter

Join Us for the 2019 30 Days Of Bourbon Challenge

Four years ago I started a little something to celebrate Bourbon Heritage Month. You see, I wanted to go to the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. The problem was that life happens, and I couldn’t make it work out.

Bourbon News

MGP Announces Remus Repeal Reserve Series III

MGP will release Remus Repeal Reserve Series III Straight Bourbon Whiskey this November 2019. Produced to commemorate Prohibition Repeal Day, Series III is a limited bottling that debuts annually on November 13, the birthdate of brand namesake George Remus.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Penelope Bourbon Review

They named Penelope bourbon after the new born daughter of one of the co-founders, Mike Paladini. He along with his life-long friend, Danny Polise, both from Basking Ridge, NJ, formed Penelope bourbon bottling Company. The description of the mash bill is a little puzzling.

Rye Whiskey Reviews

Luca Mariano Small Batch Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey Review

Like the Bourbon, this is just not enough proof to get me excited. It’s especially disappointing knowing first-hand what the 4-5 year old Rye from Wilderness Trail (who contract distills this) can be at cask strength.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Luca Mariano Old Americana Small Batch Bourbon Review

I’m a fan of the folks who are currently making this on contract at Wilderness Trail. Unfortunately, what started as good bourbon has been watered down to 83 proof and all the character went with it.

Bourbon Whiskey Reviews

Maker’s Mark Private Select Review: Randall’s Wine & Spirits

The Maker’s Mark Private Select program is one of the most impressive private selection programs in the country.